George M. Johnson and Leah Johnson “weave together complexly rendered relationships complicated by socioeconomic conflicts and divides” in their “winning” queer YA romance THERE’S ALWAYS NEXT YEAR

Mo Willems on How He’s Forced Millions of Adults to Get Silly | Slate

'Miss Nelson Is Missing' Movie With Melissa McCarthy Set at Netflix | Variety

New Latine Picture Books | Book Riot

★ “Arresting” picture book POPO THE XOLO by debut author Paloma Angelina Lopez and illustrator “blends Indigenous Mexican myth with a story of loss”

★ Melanie Florence and illustrator Matt James capture “the way music can help to power memory, even amid its loss” in their “time-spanning” picture book THE ONE ABOUT THE BLACKBIRD

George Takei to lead Banned Books Week, urging the fight against censorship | AP buff.ly/S1b2vdT

The 25 Greatest Picture Books of the Past 25 Years | Slate

The protagonist’s “energetic persona suggests a satisfied self-assuredness” in Richard Scrimger’s “frenetic” middle grade novel AT THE SPEED OF GUS

Jimmy Kimmel’s Picture Book Is Back on Charts As Fans Rally to Support Talk Show Host | Rolling Stone

Have you read the latest Children’s Bookshelf? buff.ly/gnFePDS

In Brief: September 18, 2025 buff.ly/NGDtitm

A picture book ode to family meals, a graphic novel following a Black teen’s body switch with her white crush, a National Book Award longlist selection about a 17-year-old’s choice to have an abortion, and more new books hitting shelves next week buff.ly/rKavZJM

Licensing Hotline: September 2025 buff.ly/zGdGN7T

Picture book IF YOU GO WALKING by Erin Alladin and illustrator Miki Sato is a “gentle work that gives voracious curiosity its due” and “a thoughtful tribute to the power of observation”

Children’s Day at Brooklyn Book Festival Celebrates 10th Year buff.ly/jnvMps0

“I was drawn back to this thing that had meant so much to me as a kid”: ND Stevenson on returning to an old concept and characters for his middle grade duology opener ‘Scarlet Morning’ buff.ly/pZpUEQY

On Tour with Leigh Bardugo and John Picacio buff.ly/REVLwWB

“For every student, there’s the broad universal themes, and then there’s the way it can also exist in a very relatable, one-on-one way to my Latino students”: Josuee Hernández in conversation with Hailey Alcaraz on bringing diverse stories to the forefront buff.ly/AiqhXP6

Daniel Miyares on the Personal Story Behind 'How to Say Goodbye in Cuban' buff.ly/iRaMvfR

Former Walker Books Group managing director Karen Lotz is joining W.W. Norton as director, children’s books and strategic development buff.ly/2qlqv0m

Announcing new deals for @caitlinr.bsky.social @medenkuyatt.bsky.social @ciccotello.bsky.social @sharonchoe.bsky.social + more buff.ly/JBxonYK

Have you read the latest Children’s Bookshelf? buff.ly/gnFePDS

Recently an author made her picture book debut, a fall conference brought authors to the stage, YA romance authors came together + more in this week’s In Brief

Among the books hitting shelves next week are a picture book ode to family meals, a graphic novel following a Black teen’s body switch with her white crush, an NBA longlist selection about a 17-year-old’s choice to have an abortion, and more

Running Press Kids is pairing with Cloudco Entertainment for two series of paperback series originals; Union Square & Co. has partnered with Super Smalls on a book and range of stationery and craft kits + more in this month’s licensing news

The 10th annual Children’s Day at the Brooklyn Book Festival, which welcomes young readers and families for a day of activities, storytimes, and conversations with authors, will take place this Saturday

Authors Josuee Hernández and Hailey Alcaraz discussed addressing white passing from a Latine perspective in their new YA works ‘What We Did to Each Other’ and ‘Rosa by Any Other Name’

Ezra Jack Keats Award-winning author-illustrator Daniel Miyares reflects on the family history that inspired his new graphic novel, ‘How to Say Goodbye in Cuban,’ which follows one boy’s experience during the Cuban Revolution and his journey to the U.S.

ND Stevenson spoke about his middle grade duology opener ‘Scarlet Morning,’ dealing with creative burnout, and the challenges of pivoting to a new artistic medium

To celebrate their debut picture book, ‘The Invisible Parade,’ Leigh Bardugo and John Picacio hit the road for a national book tour

Coming soon: new projects from @christymihaly.bsky.social @grumpynaturalist.bsky.social @rachelvhillis.bsky.social @alastairheim.bsky.social + more buff.ly/JBxonYK

Announcing new deals for @caitlinr.bsky.social @medenkuyatt.bsky.social @ciccotello.bsky.social @sharonchoe.bsky.social + more

Former Walker Books Group managing director Karen Lotz is joining W.W. Norton as director, children’s books and strategic development

Mimi Szeto’s “wholesome slice-of-life” YA romance manga A LITTLE STEP, a series launch, “will propel readers into the next volume of this love letter to creative pursuits”

‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ Creator Jenny Han Always Intended for That Endgame, Shares Movie Details | The Hollywood Reporter

Anti-book ban legislation and additional free speech protections now law in Delaware | DPM

“Visually polished” picture book biography ANDRÉ: ANDRÉ LEON TALLEY—A FABULOUSLY FASHIONABLE FAIRY TALE by Carole Boston Weatherford, Rob Sanders, and illustrator Lamont O’Neal “nods to vintage fashion… in its depiction of a life full of couture runways”

‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ Movie Set at Amazon Following Series Finale | Variety

Debut creator Millie Von Platen’s “playful” picture ZOHRAN WALKS NEW YORK depicts the subject as “someone who loves where he lives and believes that every interaction matters”

★ Married collaborators Sam Gellar, making her debut, and Amber Smith “empathetically depict instances of disordered eating and suicidal ideation” in their “simultaneously uplifting and unflinching” YA romance FADE INTO YOU

Have you read the latest Children's Bookshelf? buff.ly/P14dYcJ

“I am hoping this book and the whole trilogy will act as a reminder of love, kindness, and joy for one another”: Tami Charles in conversation with collaborator Bryan Collier on the final installment of their picture book trilogy buff.ly/qCnyujk

2025 National Book Festival in Photos buff.ly/kX8OOOw

Picture Book Hit 'Strictly No Elephants' Gets a Sequel a Decade Later

How Grassroots Activists Are Fighting for the Right to Read buff.ly/FN8g83K

Latinx and Hispanic Heritage Month 2025: Creators on Bringing Their Culture to Their Work buff.ly/LCQKpWR

Announcing new deals for @vvmontalban.bsky.social @ellegonzalezrose.bsky.social @audreymeeker.bsky.social @leiaham.bsky.social + more buff.ly/JBxonYK

Authors on Their Books for Latinx and Hispanic Heritage Month; Lisa Mantchev’s Sequel Picture Book; National Book Festival in Photos + more in the latest Children’s Bookshelf!

The 25th annual Library of Congress National Book Festival took place on September 6,and children’s authors and programming were major attractions. Check out our photo highlights: